Increased engagement with both production companies and the sector’s workforce have underpinned another active year for the Children’s TV Skills Fund. 2024 saw encouraging commitment from contributing productions for the Make a Move programme with 13 now working with the Fund to provide step up opportunities as part of this progression initiative, the highest number in a year, to date.
There was further expansion of the new entrant initiative, Dream Big!, delivered by thinkBIGGER. The programme, developed by the Fund to pair practical on-the-job experience with tailored training and industry masterclasses, received a 60% increase in the number of companies working with the Fund and offering 3-6 month paid placements to candidates. The programme was opened to animation companies for the first time this year, with participants able to choose a pathways into children’s content via either live-action or animation. All animation placements were part funded by the Animation Skills Fund.
More new entrants made early steps in their career journey through the Children’s’ TV Trainee Finder programme. Since April, 27 trainee candidates have received production placements through the programme, working in roles across departments such as costume, camera, production office, sound and art. In September, a new cohort were accepted onto the programme with 70% coming from outside of London.
Through collaboration with other Skills Funds, The Children’s TV Skills Fund has been able to increase the number of free online training available and help people embed learning into their lives outside of the workplace at a time that suited them. The Fund offers leadership and management training as well as practical training for scheduling and budgeting in Movie Magic.
The Get the Knowledge series continues to provide training for development and writing content for children’s in addition to its sessions outlining the essential knowledge and best practices for working with under 18s. Elsewhere there were opportunities for those moving into children’s TV and looking to pitch for children’s TV in new bespoke training sessions.
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